Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22764, George Fetty, New Jersey

SERVICE
New Jersey
Setty, George
NUMBER
S. 22764
CONTENTS

21 April see letter to Pen yl Pitts 69 22 nd ————— Phil a Let to E. M. Stryers Oct 2. 1841.
Pittsburg 22. 72 Friendship George H. Petty — of Green Co. in the State of Penn la who was a Dr in the Company commanded by Captain Philips of the Reg t commanded by _____ in the New Jersey Brigade Militia — 8 Mo Private — $ 26.66
Subscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, & commence on the 1th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of Dec and sent to — 1833 Hon A. Stewart, Ho of Rep Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 56.65 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Oct '34 13.33
$19.98
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. T. Sprague Clerk, Book E Vol. 3 Page 19.

Seclusion of George Fitz Rev. Salvin

Greene County Pa.
On this 19th day of November A.D. 1833 personally appeared in person George Fitts a resident of Greene County Penn la aged seventy eight years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following sections here in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th June 1832
That he entered the service of the United States in the year 1778 and served in the following manner.
That he first entered the service of the United States about the first of May 1778 in an expedition sent before Liberty New Jersey about 15 miles from Trenton as a drafted militia man under Captain John Philips for a term of two months which he served out in New Jersey. That most of the time near for the army. That the next time he performed was about six months after he was drafted again for a term of two months under the same Captain was marched to Princeton where he served out. That some time about four or five months he was called out again for a term of one month which he served again under the same Captain the next time he served at Trenton New Jersey. That the next time he was called out was about the time of the Battle of Brandywine that he was in that battle that he was in the militia service that he was commanded by Genl. Rock that that on this occasion he served two months. That he was called out after this as a militia man for a term of one month under his former Captain John Philips this was in the summer of 1778 which he served out in open field on the Raritan River this was the last

regular town of service he performed that he was called out often in short tours against the Tories or Patriots but he cannot now partake in the officers or the length of the tours but he served during the war to the end of the war. But the only tours he com- pleted during the war are the battalion concerning to rightwards for which he claims a pension but on his oath he can safely say he believes if his recollection would serve to certify his service against the Tories & it would account to them that period.
That he has no documentary evidence nor does he know of any witness living by whom he can prove his services but his neighbors have and were by the South side will certify to his character as a military officer.
That he believes every claim to any other pension or annuity whatsoever and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
He answers to the question required to be put by the war department he says
1. That he was born near Princeton New Jersey about the month of June 1755. That he 2. That he has no record of his age 3. That after he removed from New Jersey he removed to the State of Pennsylvania about fifty years ago where he has resided ever since

 4. That he served as a drafted Militia man + on two times as a volunteer Militia man  5. That he served under Captains John Phillips & Rock the Genl. Genl. Genl.  6. That he has no written discharge now that he ever saw any to his knowledge  7. That he could not procure the attendance of any clergyman with whom he can argue that Levi Anderson Esq and Joseph Ayers his Neighbors will certify to his character as a revolutionary soldier 
Sworn and subscribed in open Court Nov 19 th 1833 Ezra Root Probz
George X Fitty mark
 8. We Levi Anderson Esq and Joseph Ayers both of Green County Tenn do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with George Fitty who has been to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be a worthy man of age that he is a friend of ours in the country where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & we concur in that opinion & that he has the character of an honest & conscientious man 
Sworn and subscribed in open Court Nov 19 th 1833 Ezra Root Probz
Levi Anderson Joseph Hiles

And the court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the court appointed. That George Fitty who has signed a sworn to the foregoing declaration is a respectable man and a true as he states. And the court do further certify that it appears to them that Levi Anderson Esq. & Joseph Piles, who have signed the foregoing certificate are both residents of Greene County Penna. and are credible persons. and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Greene County S Pennsylvania
I Enos Hook Proth of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said court in the matter of the application of George Fitty for a renewal
renewal which I have hereunto set my hand & seal of the said court at the at Marysville the 20th day of November 1883
Enos Hook Proth.
Levi Anderson Esq. George Fitty Res. Solicitor

Revolution
22764 INVALID.
am
File No. 22,764
George Betty
Pris Rev War
Act: James Y n 99
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 124
[Arrangement of 1870.]
✓

L. 472
MD. 30 Sept. 1841
Pension Office.
Geo. Kellogg pa rld,

Waynesburgh Pa Sept 27
Free
Hon. John M c Lean Secretary of War Washington City D.C.

Waynesburg Pa Sept 21. 1841
Dear Sir
I write on behalf of George Kelly a revolutionary soldier who it appears to me has been wronged out of monies that he ought to have the benefit of. He is a poor old decrepid man; almost a town charge. And I want you out of charity to the old veteran to search the records of the war office and see when his pension commenced, how many he has received, the amount of each and to whom they were paid. Write to me immediately or cause the Commissioner of Pensions to attend to this.
Yours Very Respectfully E. M. Sayers
J. M. Sloan Secy of War Washington D.C.

George Felly - Pittsburgh Paddle, act 1832 at $26.66
per annum.
We have received a letter saying that the pensioner has been wronged out of a portion of his pension, and requesting to know at what period payment was made, for what time, and to whom paid.
Will Mr Hany enable us to answer
the enquiry?
Pension Office Oct 1. 1841.
He was paid regularly - semi annually to the 4 th March 1841
 7. 4 March 1839 per t. A G Allison his Attorney  4 Sep " " " J M Burbridge "  4 March 1840 " " Thomas Jackson "  4 Sep " " " John M Headman "  4 March 1841 " " John M Burbridge " 
JH

28. 642.
George Fetter Penna
Adm 8 Months
Hon A. Stewart Ho of Rep

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.              
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of } On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

See letter from Hon. A. Stewart of 14 April 1834, in file -

Hon Lewis Cass
Secy of War
Sir
Please direct the pension granted to George Petty of Greene Co Pa to be made payable at Pittsburgh instead of Phil a & oblige yours
A. Stewart
Ho of Reps 19 ap r 34